Karnataka:new rules allows only fully-vaccinated in public places

The Karnataka government has issued a fresh set of guidelines which banned unvaccinated people from accessing certain facets of public life, such as parks, shopping malls, and cinema theatres. The new orders also prohibited any gathering and cultural event at schools till January 22 next year. The decisions were taken at a meeting, chaired by Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, to discuss the government's action plan with senior ministers, administration officials, and public health experts.

According to Revenue Secretary R Ashok students will not be allowed to attend offline classes in schools unless their parents are fully vaccinated. Schools and colleges have been asked to postpone all cultural activities till January 15, 2022 in view of the new Covid variant Omicron. Airports in the state will test all incoming passengers for coronavirus. Passengers will be allowed to leave the premises only after their test reports come in. Covid beds will be opened up once again in hospitals across the state. Oxygen plants have been installed and they will be repaired and kept ready, The availability of oxygen will be monitored by committees that were formed earlier and Covid control rooms will be resumed again across the state, he added. To ensure there is no shortage of Covid drugs, vaccines and drugs will be purchased in advance, the revenue secretary further added.

Government servants must compulsorily be vaccinated with both doses of the Covid-19 shot as well. Wearing face masks is an essential preventive measure. In order to strictly enforce the core requirement of masking, municipal and local authorities shall impose a fine of Rs 250 in municipal corporation areas and Rs l00 in other areas in case of any violation in this regard. Strict surveillance at the border posts set up by the districts adjoining Kerala and Maharashtra shall continue as per the prevailing circular and guidelines issued by the Karnataka government.